mediaBIN3.0 Weighted Companion Cube Build

[zAAm]

you gunna do anything about those black rings from the adhesive stuff?

Haha, yeah definitely. The heart covers are going to be painted white in the end - with the pink hearts on top. So you won't be able to see the filings... I'm also considering painting the inside of the hearts as well to avoid strange colour reflections and so it looks better when you dismantle the cube.

 

[zAAm]

The current state of the wiring. It's really starting to get apparent just how many wires it's going to take. This is the wiring of all 20 red LED's and 6 of the 20 UV LED's of 5 of the 6 panels. So there's still 44 connections to be made!

 

[MRCL]

Impressive! A 10/10 is already guaranteed!

 

[Fourstaff]

Starting to look very good! I wish I can build myself one, but I have 4 legs and 0 patience

 

[dr emulator (madmax)]

I just picked up some of these for my build
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6114/ele-278/5mm_WhiteRed_Dual_Color_LED.html?tl=g44c77s118

Its one LED that can be both colors(3 wires, gd, r,w) They also make 3 color LEDs.

thanks for the link mk, i'm going to try to get hold of some of these to be honest i looked all over for something similar but only found smd stuff

Okay, I had to test the LED's. They seem to confirm my theory, although diffusing the light might be the biggest problem... Will probably need to use indirect light.

Here's just one red and one UV LED on a breadboard to test. Colours are very discrete.
http://img.techpowerup.org/091123/DSC07849.jpg

Now, just by adding a white surface for the light to reflect (and diffuse) from, in this case the handy ol' cheapo ruler, the light is mixed and the result is a pinkish tint very close to what I want
http://img.techpowerup.org/091123/DSC07851.jpg

So I think there is definitely some fact behind my theory. Now, how to make this test into a prototype?

this project of yours is looking superb
you really know how to work wood, it definately gets my a work of art

 

[zAAm]

Update

Okay, so I've completed the wiring and wire routing of the top half of the cube (i.e. 20 of the 24 LED strips). I've also cleaned up the layout and stuck on all the parts to have a peak at what the final product is going to look like.

The front of the cube... The power and HDD LED's are just behind the circular cover at the top - the same placement as that of the power and reset buttons at the back of the cube.

...and the back. You can just see one of the buttons through the orange cover.

A perspective 'cause I like it...

The rear of the cube again, but with the magnetized heart cover removed. You can see the 4 holes that the cover fits into. The magnets are flush with the other side of the perspex panel so the four studs of the cover fit through the holes and just contact the magnets on the other side. You can also see the power button (left) and the reset button (right) clearly. With this configuration it prevents someone from accidentally pressing a button if they handle the cube since the circular disk completely covers them when assembled.

The heart of the companion cube . You can see the hundreds of wires covering the internal surface of the cube connecting all the LED strips... They are routed cleanly (or as cleanly as I could get them ) and superglued in place to avoid them snagging when you put the top half over the internals. The connector hanging in mid-air connects directly into the motherboard to power the LED's and to connect the buttons. The tricoloured wires at the back connects to the light controller when the halves are joined.

A close up of some of the wiring...

Well that's it. Today I'm going to drill the holes to mount the internals to the bottom panel and then glue and wire the bottom LED strips. After that all that's left is making a mechanism to allow screwing the top and half pieces together (it's going to be tricky since there's very little room - but I think I have an idea) and then PAINT!

 

[zAAm]

A quick comparison with the "real" thing. Apart from the colours and the fact that the perspective is slightly different...

 

[steelkane]

Top notch building = Greatness when done

 

[MRCL]

*drool*

Are you planning on making a cake computer, too?

 

[Bo$$]

A quick comparison with the "real" thing. Apart from the colours and the fact that the perspective is slightly different...
http://img.techpowerup.org/091230/Comparison.jpg

i'd say a perfect likeness

 

[zAAm]

Top notch building = Greatness when done

i'd say a perfect likeness

Thanks guys . Now to see if the final product can match up

*drool*

Are you planning on making a cake computer, too?

Haha, not at the moment but that would be brilliant!! Might be hard to keep everyone from taking a bite though...

 

[dr emulator (madmax)]

you sir get the dr's

 

[Wile E]

A quick comparison with the "real" thing. Apart from the colours and the fact that the perspective is slightly different...
http://img.techpowerup.org/091230/Comparison.jpg

Holy shit!! Do want!!!!

 

[zAAm]

Hi guys, just wanted to say happy new year! and to show a teeny tiny update...

The corners have their first layer of primer and some serious sanding later we have a pretty smooth surface.

Today I'll paint and sand the edge pieces (as seen in a row at the bottom) and probably start with the white on the corners. Then it's sanding again and maybe then the final white gloss layer. Will see how the pieces look . Also, I'm going to scuff the surface of the perspex a bit using 600grit sandpaper before I paint it to increase the paint strength. I've tested it and it's a lot tougher without damaging the finish.

Have a great year...

 

[Bo$$]

Hi guys, just wanted to say happy new year! and to show a teeny tiny update...

The corners have their first layer of primer and some serious sanding later we have a pretty smooth surface.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100101/DSC08150.jpg

Today I'll paint and sand the edge pieces (as seen in a row at the bottom) and probably start with the white on the corners. Then it's sanding again and maybe then the final white gloss layer. Will see how the pieces look . Also, I'm going to scuff the surface of the perspex a bit using 600grit sandpaper before I paint it to increase the paint strength. I've tested it and it's a lot tougher without damaging the finish.

Have a great year...

Happy new year, my first 2010 post

nice idea but using finer sand paper like 1000 or 1200 would be better, as it would leave a smoother finish

 

[zAAm]

So I've finished some three layers of paint on the white pieces. I'm debating putting on another white layer on the corners and maybe a gloss clear topcoat...

This is the full collection of painted parts . The edges still need a lot of work since they're a nightmare to paint. They're so small and have very small angled faces so you have to be extremely careful not to overcoat the flat faces when trying to just get SOME paint onto the smaller faces.

The perspex circles came out pretty decent except for some unexplainable marks probably left by the molding and sanding stages.

One of the corners up close. The finish isn't bad - it's not a visually smooth piano finish, but it's smooth to the touch. Also, the problem with MDF is you can never get a perfect raw finish to start with and I'm too lazy to sit and sand for 8hours just to get that last little nick out of the paint. I'm probably going to put on another coat to smooth it out a bit more, but that's about it. The corners are also so that there's always some vertical faces so you have to be very careful not to overcoat anything or they'll run - again difficult with the amount of small angles you have to coat.

A close up of one of the perspex circles showing a pretty decently smooth finish. It's not a piano finish, but it's better than I hoped for . They will also most likely receive another coat of paint and maybe a clear topcoat.

So that's all I have to show for today. I'm busy with the mounting system planning and will likely start with that tonight or tomorrow

 

[steelkane]

Looking nice,, if you wanted smother you could clear coat,, let dry,, wetsand, keep doing that intill your happy with the finish,, but I think they look good now

 

[Soylent Joe]

Freakin epic man. Can't wait to see it finished and working

 

[zAAm]

So I got some more paint and added a third white layer on the corners. Tomorrow I'll add a clear coat to finish everything off - think it went quite well and the finish is pretty decent .

I leave you guys with a single photo showing a bit of the white finish before any sanding...

 

[zAAm]

Oh yeah, I forgot. I've also finished the closing mechanism! It's basically four M6 nut extenders epoxied to the corners of the cube in which countersunk bolts thread into. I think they will probably hold everything together nicely

Here's the bottom bolted to the rest of the cube. The bolts will eventually go through the mounted white corners as well where they'll be mounted flush.

The four extenders epoxied to the cube

Close-up of an extender. They are pretty beefy!

 

[Ryo129]

Amazing work man. Can't wait to see it done, gonna look great.

 

[jenygs09]

Oh yeah, I forgot. I've also finished the closing mechanism! It's basically four M6 nut extenders epoxied to the corners of the cube in which countersunk bolts thread into. I think they will probably hold everything together nicely

Here's the bottom bolted to the rest of the cube. The bolts will eventually go through the mounted white corners as well where they'll be mounted flush.
http://img.techpowerup.org/100104/DSC08169.jpg

The four extenders epoxied to the cube
http://img.techpowerup.org/100104/DSC08170.jpg

Close-up of an extender. They are pretty beefy!
http://img.techpowerup.org/100104/DSC08172.jpg

Can someone make this yoshi light blue? But keep like the yellow glow on him, because it makes it look wierd when its meant to be the sunshine
_________________
Can Koozies | Drink koozies

 

[zAAm]

Can someone make this yoshi light blue? But keep like the yellow glow on him, because it makes it look wierd when its meant to be the sunshine

I think I speak for a lot of people when I said "wtf??" the first time I read this. Do you mean this?

 

[Fourstaff]

So, when is it ready to ship to my place?

 

[Wile E]

So, when is it ready to ship to my place?

I have first dibs pal. lol